Segmental candle



June 18, 1968 F. J. CANGIALOSI 3,388,960

SEGMENTAL CANDLE Filed July 1. 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FRANCIS J. CANG/ALOSI A T TOR/V5 V IN l/E N TOR June 1968 F. J. CANGIALOSI 3,388,960

SEGMENTAL CANDLE INVENTOR FRANCIS J. CANG/ALOSI (gum By ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,388,960 SEGMENTAL CANDLE Francis J. Qangiaiosi, 123 Valley View Road, Hillside, NJ. 07205 Filed July I, 1966, Ser. No. 562,383 Claims. (Cl. 431-488) ABSTRAQT OF THE DISCLOSURE Ornamental candles are frequently comprised of mul-.

tiple layers of different colored waxes poured one on top of the other in a mold while in the liquid state. The various layers of different colored wax fuse and solidify to produce an integral, solid candle. Obviously, the interarrangement of color layers is thus, fixed. In addition, such candles invariably must have a constant cross-sectional configuration along the longitudinal axis as for instance, cylindrical, square or the like. Moreover, the manufacture of multicolored candles by pouring and fusing liquid wax layers is both time consuming and costly.

It is desirable to provide a candle of multicolored layers without the necessity of pouring melted wax of different colors in layers in a mold. In addition, it is desirable to permit the purchaser to exercise his own creative originality by custom fashioning his own interarrangement of colors according to his own Wishes. Moreover, it is desirable to provide a candle which may have a varying cross-sectional configuration along its longitudinal axis. Such desiderata may be achieved by my invention hereinafter described.

Therefore, it is among the objects and advantages of my invention to provide a segmental candle in which solid, premolded wax segments may be stacked, one upon the other to produce a finished candle.

Another object of my invention is to provide a segmental candle in which each segment is provided with means on opposed faces adapted to interengage cooperative means on adjacent segments both above and beneath to prevent either or both of latitudinal and vertical displacement of one segment with respect to the other.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a segmental candle in which each segment is provided with an axial bore or passage to accommodate a lead wick.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide-a segmental candle in which the aforesaid means for interengaging or interlocking the respective segments also function to align the said bores in linear registration with I each other.

Still yet another object of my invention is to provide a segmental candle in which adjacent segments may have a different color, a different crosssectional configuration or a different surface ornamentation.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a segmental candle in which each segment may independently function as an individual candle.

A further object of my invention is to provide a segmental candle in which each segment has a width substantially greater than a axial length thereby permitting the same to remain in stable equilibrium while resting on a stable surface or floating on the surface of a liquid.

These objects and advantages as well as other objects and advantages may be achieved by my invention, several 3,3883% Patented June 18, 1968 embodiments of which are illustrated in the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a candle segment having first and second cooperative interlocking means to prevent latitudinal displacement of each segment with respect to immediately adjacent segments above and beneath;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational, cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIGURE 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of an alterate candle seg ment having first and second positive interlocking cooperative means adapted to prevent both latitudinal as Well as longitudinal displacement of each segment from immediately adjacent segments both above and beneath;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational, cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4- in FIGURE 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of still another form of candle segment;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view taken along line 66 in FIGURE 5 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of a composite candle formed by stacking candle segments illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational, cross-sectional view of still another form of candle segments;

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational, cross-sectional view of yet a further form of candle segments;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational, cross-sectional view of yet still another form of candle segment.

My segmental candle comprises two fundamental concepts; first, each segment is provided with first and second cooperative interlocking means which prevent latitudinal displacement of each segment with respect to each adjacent segment both above and beneath; and second, a segment which is provided with first and second cooperative interlocking means which positively secure each segment not only against latitudinal displacement as aforesaid but also vertical displacement with respect to immediately adjacent segments both above and beneath.

As a common denominator, each candle segment is provided with .a flat, generally horizontal, top face and a flat, generally horizontal bottom face. An axial bore or passage extends transversely through each segment to accommodate a lead wick. Each segment is provided with upstanding interlocking means on the top face and cooperative recess means on the bottom face in the form of a recess shaped and dimensioned to receive and seat the upstanding interlocking means on the top face in such a manner that the top face of each segment lies flush with and engages the bottom face of the segment immediately above :and the bottom face of each segment lies flush with and engages the top face of each segment immediately adjacent therebeneath. Moreover, the cooperative interlocking means on each segment insure axial registration of the transverse passage in each segment with each of the other transverse passages of other segments. Thus, when the respective segments are stacked one above the other, a lead wick may be inserted easily through the respective axial passages.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and specifically to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in FIG- URES 1 and 2, my candle compnises a plurality of vertically stacked candle segments 11. Each candle segment 11 comprises a solid, premolded, wax body member 12 which may have any convenient external, configuration as for instance, a medial, radially, outwardly extending tapered enlargement 13 as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2. Thus, a candle formed from such segments 11 will have a generally saw-toothed external surface in an axial direction.

Each segment 11 has a generally flat, horizontal top face 14 on the body member 12 and a generally flat, horizontal bottom face thereon parallel to the top face 14.

Molded integrally with the top face 14 is an upstanding enlargement or interlock 16 which in FIGURES 1 and 2 is a regular, polygonal, generally star shaped member. Preferably, when the body member 12 has a regular polygonal or circular cross-sectional configuration, tlhe upstanding interlock 16 is formed symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the body member 12.

The bottom face 15 of the body member 12 is pro vided with a cooperative interlock 17 in the form of a recess identically shaped and dimensioned to the interlock 16 on the top face 14 such that the upstanding interlock 16 will seat and nest within the recess 16 permitting the bottom face 15 of each segment to lie flush with and engage the top face 14 of the segment immediately therebeneath. Similarly, the top face 14 of each segment lies flush with and engages the bottom face 15 of each segment thereabove.

Each segment 11 is provided with an axial, transverse bore or passage 18 to accommodate a lead wick 19. The recess 17 is positioned with respect to the upstanding interlock 16 and bore 18 such that the bores 18 in each segment will be in axial registration when the segments are stacked one above the other.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in FIG- URES 1 and 2, each segment is secure against latitudinal displacement with segments immediately adjacent both above and beneath by reason of the cooperative interengagement of the upstanding interlock 16 on the top face of each segment with the recess interlock 17 in the bottom of the segment thereabove. However, in this embodiment of my invention, the segments may be disengaged from each other by vertical movement, or displacement of the segments with respect to each other.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, the candle segment 11 comprises a body member 20 having a generally circular horizontal cross-sectional configuration and decorative medial peripheral radial, enlargement 21. The body member 20 has a generally fiat top surface 22 and a generally flat bottom surface 23 parallel thereto. Upstanding first interlocking means 24 are molded integrally with the body member 21 and function to positively interlock each segment 11 with each adjacent segment immediately thereabove when the segments are stacked vertically one above the other.

The interlocking means 24 comprise a generally cylindrical upstanding enlargement 25 positioned concentric to the body member 20. The cylindrical section 25 may have an upwardly tapering generally conical top 26. An axial bore or passage 27 extends transversely through the cylindrical portion 25 and the body member 20.

The cylindrical section 25 is provided with four radial keys 28 langularly equally spaced about the periphery of the cylindrical section 25. Each key 28 comprises a radial ly outwardly extending cam surface 29 the plane of which is perpendicular to the axis of the bore 27 but contoured at a slight positive angle to the plane of .the top 22 of the body member 20. The lower end of the cam surface 29 terminates in a vertical abutment surface 30 which is generally parallel to the axis of the bore 27 and perpendicular to the plane of the top 22 of the body member 20.

The body member 20 is provided with second interlocking means for positively securing each segment 11 to each segment immediately adjacent therebeneath, the second said means comprising :a recess 31 shaped and dimensioned complementary to the interlocking means 24 molded to the top of the body member 20. The recess 31 is provided with four peripheral, radially inwardly projecting keys 32 :angularly equally spaced from each other about the inner periphery of the recess 31 at the bottom surface 23. Each key 32 is adapted to cooperatively interengage one of the keys 28 of the first said interlocking means and comprises an upwardly inclined cam surface 33 which is perpendicular to the axis of the bore 27 but inclined at positive angle to the top 22 and bottom 23 of the body member 20 to extend parallel to the cam surface 29 0f the cooperative key 28. Each key 32 is dimensioned to pass beneath the cam surface 29 of the cooperative key 28 upon rotation of the segments 11 with respect to each other until the abutment end 34 of key 32 engages abutment end 30 of key 28. The cam surfaces 29 and 33 are thereupon tightly engaged with each other. The vertical height of the key 32 as well as the distance between cam surface 29 and the top 22 of the body member 20 are so dimensioned that when key 28 is tightly engaged to the cooperative key 32 of an adjacent candle segment 11, the top 22 of the lower most segment will be in tight engagement with the bottom 23 of the upper most segment. Frictional forces between cam surfaces 29 and 33 as well as the top 22 and the bottom 23 of the adjacent candle segment provide what is in effect :a threaded positive interlock which prevents not only lateral displacement of the segments 11 with respect to each other but also vertical displacement without first rotating the interlocked segments with respect to the other. In addition, because the respective segments 11 are identical, the bores 27 are in registration with each other when the segments are properly interlocked.

Still another form of my invention is illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6 wherein each segment :11 has a generally circular cross-sectional configuration. Each segment is provided with a convoluted top 35 and an identical convoluted bottom 36. The convoluted top and bottom 35 and 36 are generally annular, terminating in a generally fiat, concentric inner portion 37 and 38 respectively. A transverse bore 39 extends axially through the segment d1. When the segments are stacked one on top of the other, the convolutions of the respective adjacent segments interengage to prevent lateral displacement of one segment with respect to adjacent segments.

in FIGURE 7, a fully stacked candle employing segments .11 illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6 is shown. Since each segment 11 may be of a different color, the convolutions produce a convoluted interface of different colors to produce an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Obviously, many other interlocks may be provided on the top and bottom of each segment 11 which interlocks engage complementary interlocks on adjacent segments thereby preventing lateral displacement of one segment from adjacent segments. Three such forms of interlocks are illustrated in FIGURES 8, 9 and 10. FIGURE 8 employs a plurality of generally upstanding, truncated, rectangular keys whereas FIGURE 9 illustrates triangular sawtooth projections and FIGURE 10 illustrates a central, truncated conical enlargement and complementary truncated conical recess in the opposite face. Obviously, many other configurations are possible. The essence of invention lies in the fact that enlargements on the face of one segment interengage with complementary recesses in the face of an adjacent segment thereby preventing lateral displacement of one segment with respect to adjacent segments. A second aspect of invention is an interlock of the general character described in which displacement of segments vertically from one another is prevented by rotational interengagement in a positive fashion of means on one segment with cooperative means on an adjacent segment. While in FIGURES '3 and 4, I have illustrated one such positive interlock, obviously, an ordinary cylindrical section having threads thereon may be provided on the top of the segment and a complementary threaded bore on the bottom of the segment. However, the formation of the interlock shown in FIG- URES 3 and 4 is more simple, more easily manufactured and less easily damaged in use.

The foregoing description is merely intended to illustrate an embodiment of the invention. The component parts have been shown and described. They each may have substitutes which may perform a substantially similar function; such substitutes may be known as proper substitutes for the said components and may have actually been known or invented before the present invention; these substitutes are contemplated as being within the scope of the appended claims, although they are not specifically catalogued herein.

I claim:

1. A segmental candle comprising:

(a) a plurality of solid, shaped candle segments, stacked one on top of the other, each segment having a bore extending transversely therethrough from top to bottom to receive a detachable Wick, and

(b) first means on the top of each segment engaged with cooperative second means on the bottom of the segment immediately adjacent thereabove to position the respective bores in linear registration and to deter lateral displacement of adjacent segments with respect to each other.

2. A segmental candle comprising:

(a) the structure in accordance with claim 1 in which,

(b) the first said means are an upstanding enlargement on the top of each segment,

(0) the second said means are a recess in the bottom of each segment shaped and dimensioned in close conformity with the said first means,

(d) the first said means of each segment seating within the second said means of the segment immediately thereabove at least one pair of cooperative surfaces on the respective enlargements and recesses lying in a plurality of planes which deter both lateral and rotational movement of adjacent engaged segments with respect to each other.

3. A segment-a1 candle comprising:

(a) the structure in accordance with claim 1 in which,

(b) the first said means are an upstanding enlargement on the top of each segment,

(c) a plurality of radial cam surfaces on each enlargement spaced away from the said top and inclined at an angle thereto,

(d) the second said means are a recess in the bottom of each segment and,

(e) a plurality of cam surfaces within the recess equal in number and generally parallel to the eam surfaces on each said enlargement extending radially inwardly,

(f) each cam surface on each enlargement engaging a cooperative cam surface in the recess in the segment immediately thereabove upon seating the said enlargement within the said recess and rotating the said immediately adjacent segments with respect to each other.

4. A segmental candle comprising:

(a) a plurality of solid candle segments stacked one on top of the other,

(b) an enlargement on one side of each segment and a conforming recess on the opposite side,

(c) a radial lip on the enlargement defining a radial groove,

(d) a cooperative radial lip in the recess defining a radial groove,

(e) the respective radial lips and grooves cooperatively mating upon rotation of adjacent segments to interlock adjacent segments against disengagement except upon further rotation of interlocked segments with respect to each other.

5. A segmental candle comprising:

(a) a plurality of solid candle segments stacked one on top of the other,

(b) first means on the top of each segment,

'(c) cooperative second means on the bottom of each segment,

(d) the said first and second means on adjacent segments cooperatively interengaged to deter both lateral and rotational movement of said segments with respect to each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 214,258 4/1879 Maguire 6722 2,324,723 7/ 1943 Powers et al 67-22 FOREIGN PATENTS 4,73 0 11/1932 Australia.

738,060 10/1955 Great Britain.

CHARLES J. MYHRE, Primary Examiner. 

